Three-dimensional motion graphic user interface and method and apparatus for providing the same

• US 8,117,563 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ok, Joon-ho, Kang, Hyun-joo, Kim, Mi-jeong, Kim, Sung-woo, Park, Sang-hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Chat
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nunez, Jordany
• Application Number:
  US11/198,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20060031876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,381 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848, 715/775, 715/778, 715/782, 715/836, 715/850, 345/419
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI) and a method and apparatus for providing the same. The apparatus includes a control module which creates a polyhedron component that can be opened and that has at least one opening face and an internal space containing at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component. A storing module stores the polyhedron component created by the control module, and an input module inputs data about a user'"'"'s action with respect to the polyhedron component. A user interface module assigns predetermined attributes to at least one of a plurality of subordinate faces, maps information displayed on an information face according to the predetermined attributes, processes motion of the polyhedron component according to the input data, changes an information display according to the motion, and manages at least one group of a plurality of polyhedron components. An output module displays a processing result of the user interface module.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the MGUI comprising:

at least two opening faces which forms a polyhedron component that can be opened; and

an internal space which is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and which contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component,

wherein at least one of a plurality of faces that are subordinate to the polyhedron component has predetermined attributes,

the information is displayed differently according to the predetermined attributes,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein a size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged according to an action by a user,

wherein if the user requests opening a face of the polyhedron, the face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space pop outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the predetermined attributes include at least one of a size of the polyhedron component, color of a face of the polyhedron component, extent of transparency of a face of the polyhedron component, information on whether a face is an information face, information on whether a face is an opening face, a way the opening face is opened, an opening speed of the opening face, information about edges of the opening face, which are attached to or detached from the polyhedron component, information about the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component, information about the presentation and operations of the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component, and a color of an edge of the polyhedron component.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the information displayed on the face of the polyhedron component is displayed differently according to a viewpoint with respect to the polyhedron component in an active space.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein a position of the polyhedron component is changed according to a user'"'"'s action.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged by selecting and dragging a vertex of the polyhedron component.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the polyhedron component rotates with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the polyhedron component rotates with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action and then returns to its original state.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein when a plurality of polyhedron components is grouped, the polyhedron components in the same group have at least one identical attribute.

9. An apparatus including a memory and processor for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the apparatus comprising:

a control circuit that creates a polyhedron component that can be opened and that has at least two opening faces and an internal space that is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and that contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component;

a storing circuit that stores the polyhedron component created by the control circuit;

an input circuit to which data about an action by a user with respect to the polyhedron component is input;

a user interface circuit which assigns predetermined attributes to at least one of a plurality of faces subordinate to the polyhedron component, maps information displayed on an information face according to the predetermined attributes, processes motion of the polyhedron component according to the data about the action by the user input through the input circuit, and changes an information display according to the motion of the polyhedron component; and

an output circuit that displays a processing result of the user interface circuit,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein the motion includes a size change of the polyhedron component according to the action by the user and the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged,

wherein if the user requests opening the opening face of the polyhedron, the opening face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space pop outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the predetermined attributes include at least one of a size of the polyhedron component, color of a face of the polyhedron component, extent of transparency of a face of the polyhedron component, information on whether a face is an information face, information on whether a face is an opening face, a way the opening face is opened, an opening speed of the opening face, information about edges of the opening face, which are attached to or detached from the polyhedron component, information about the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component, information about presentation and operations of the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component, and a color of an edge of the polyhedron component.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the information objects contained in the internal space automatically pop outside the polyhedron component when the opening face is opened.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when the opening face is opened, the information objects contained in the internal space remain in the internal space and are then pulled out individually or by a group according to a user'"'"'s action.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the information displayed on the face of the polyhedron component is displayed differently according to a viewpoint with respect to the polyhedron component in an active space.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motion includes a position change of the polyhedron component according to a user'"'"'s action.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged by selecting and dragging a vertex of the polyhedron component.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motion includes a rotation of the polyhedron component with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the motion includes a rotation of the polyhedron component with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action and a return to its original state.

18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control circuit manages at least one group of a plurality of the polyhedron components.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one group of polyhedron components are managed by causing the polyhedron components in a same group to have at least one identical attribute.

20. A method for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the method comprising:

a user accessing a polyhedron component including at least two opening faces and an internal space which is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and which contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component;

the user inputting an action that generates motion of the polyhedron component; and

motion of the polyhedron component being generated according to the action by the user,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein the motion includes a size change of the polyhedron component according to the action by the user and the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged,

wherein the motion being generated comprises the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component whose opening face is opened performing predetermined operations,

wherein the predetermined operations of the information objects comprise if the user requests opening the opening face, the opening face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space pop outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at east one of the two opening faces.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the motion being generated comprises:

the opening face being opened;

the user inputting an action for closing the opened opening face; and

the opened opening face being closed according to the action.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the motion being generated comprises:

the opening face being opened;

and

the opened opening face being closed after a predetermined amount of time following the opening of the opening face.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the motion includes a position change of the polyhedron component according to a user'"'"'s action.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged by selecting and dragging a vertex of the polyhedron component.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the motion includes a rotation of the polyhedron component with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the motion includes a rotation of the polyhedron component with respect to one or more axes according to a user'"'"'s action and a return to its original state.

27. A method for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the method comprising:

selecting a specific polyhedron component from a group of polyhedron components that have at least two opening faces that can be opened on an edge that is attached to the polyhedron component, and that have an internal space that is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and that contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component;

highlighting the selected polyhedron component;

displaying detail information of information displayed on an information face of the selected polyhedron component; and

changing a way of displaying other polyhedron components of the group of polyhedron components,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein the motion includes a size change of the polyhedron component according to an action by a user and the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged,

wherein the motion being generated comprises the information objects contained in the internal space of the polyhedron component whose opening face is opened performing predetermined operations,

wherein the predetermined operations of the information objects comprise if the user requests opening the opening face, the opening face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space pops outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein once one polyhedron component from the group of polyhedron components is moved, the other polyhedron components of the group of polyhedron components are consecutively moved.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the highlighting of the selected polyhedron component includes at least one of moving the selected polyhedron component close to a user, enlarging the selected polyhedron component, changing a color of the selected polyhedron component, marking edges of the selected polyhedron component with bold lines, and marking the selected polyhedron component with a focus mark.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the changing the way of displaying includes at least one of moving the other polyhedron components away from a user, reducing sizes of the other polyhedron components, thinning colors of the other polyhedron components, and marking edges of the other polyhedron components with thin lines.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the polyhedron components of the group are presented in a form of a tree structure, and when the selected polyhedron component is enlarged, related information is displayed in a form of an enlarged tree structure.

32. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program for executing a method for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the method comprising:

a user accessing a polyhedron component including at least two opening faces and an internal space which is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and which contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component;

the user inputting an action that generates motion of the polyhedron component; and

motion of the polyhedron component being generated according to the action by the user,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein the motion includes a size change of the polyhedron component according to the action by the user and the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged,

wherein if the user requests opening the opening face, the opening face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space pop outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

33. A computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program for executing a method for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the method comprising:

selecting a specific polyhedron component from a group of polyhedron components that have at least two opening faces that can be opened on an edge that is attached to the polyhedron component, and that have an internal space that is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and that contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component;

highlighting the selected polyhedron component;

displaying detail information of information displayed on an information face of the selected polyhedron component; and

changing a way of displaying other polyhedron components of the group of polyhedron components,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein the motion includes a size change of the polyhedron component according to an action by a user and the size of the polyhedron component is reduced or enlarged,

wherein if the user requests opening the opening face, the opening face is opened and the information objects contained in the internal space automatically pop outside the polyhedron component without further action by the user,

wherein the information objects are moving images that are displayed at the time the face is opened and wherein speed with which the face is opened is one of the attributes of the opened face, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program for providing a three-dimensional motion graphic user interface (MGUI), the MGUI comprising:

at least two opening faces which forms a polyhedron component that can be opened; and

an internal space which is completely surrounded so as to be enclosed by faces of the polyhedron component and which contains at least one information object related to information displayed on a face of the polyhedron component,

wherein at least one of a plurality of faces that are subordinate to the polyhedron component has predetermined attributes,

the information is displayed differently according to the predetermined attributes,

wherein information objects contained in the internal space change according to a face on which a focus is placed,

wherein if the opening face is opened according to a user action, the information objects contained in the internal space remain in the internal space and are then pulled out individually or by a group according to another user action,

wherein if the opened face is closed, the information objects contained in the internal space stop operating and are moved back into the internal space and the information objects pulled outside remain outside regardless of whether the opened face is closed, and

wherein the speed attribute is set independently for at least one of the two opening faces.

35. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein if the polyhedron components have a hierarchical structure, closing of the opened faces is consecutively performed from lower to upper polyhedron components.